Hair clasp



v Oct. 28, 1958 M. F. BoxE HAIR- CLASP Filed March 22, 1956 Fia/X INVENToR. M0555 E BoxfR United States Patent i i HAIR CLASP Moses F. Boxen'San Francisco, Calif.

Application March22, 1956, Serial No. 573,228

7 Claims. (Cl. 132-46) This invention relates generally tto hair-clasps. Conventional hair clasps have been `found `to be objectionable in that they `do not grasp -the `hair tightly enough and because they are generally so large and bulky that they ycannot the concealed under the hair. These clasps .have been diicult to adapt to the various types of hearing aid devices, particularly when it is desired to use the same ltype of device for supporting 'any p one of the components of the hearing aid such as the receiver, transmitter or the cord. Such clasps also are not adapted for fastening mens toupees, where adhesives cannot be used or for fastening womens glamour hair adaptations nsuch as falls, curls and pony tails.

.In general, it .-is an object ofthe present invention Vto provide a hair clasp which can be readily fastened in Vthe .hair .and zcan `be used for carrying `or `fastening other objects in the hair.

Another object -of .the rinvention is to provide a clasp of the above `character which will grasp the hair firmly withoutcutting the hair.

Another object of the invention is to -provide .a clasp lof the .above character -which is suitable for supporting junction with the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a bottom plan view illustrating a hair clasp incorporating the present invention and showing a hearing aid receiver cord supported thereby.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the hair clasp shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the clasp shown in Figure `1 without the hearing aid receiver cord,

Figure 4 is a side elevational view similar to the view of Figure 2 but showing the clasp in an open position and supporting a hearing aid receiver rather than a hearing aid cord.

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged view taken along the line 6--6 of Figure 2.

This invention, as illustrated in the drawing, consists of a pair of leaves 11 and 12 which are formed of a suitable spring metal. Suitable means is provided for forming a hinged connection between leaves 11 and 12 and :2,857,918 "Patented oct. 2s, `195s ICC consists 'of axpair of 'knuckles 13 `on leaf .12 and aknuclle 14 4on leaf .'11 'which are adapted to intert to .form a barrel 'for the reception of :a pin 16. -Other .conventional means such asa .ball and .socket connection .may also Ybe used for :forming ash'inged connection between the leaves.

iLeaf :11 :has been .formed to provide a hook 17 fand leaf 12 has been formed with araised point 19 which iis .adapted to engage a V-shape'd notch `21 .in hook 1177 to fasten .leaf 12 .to'leaf 11. It is desirable to form :member 12 slightly curved ,as 'shown particularly in ."Figure l4 iso that :the convexside face ofleaf .12 `is.1facing the leaf :11, `is caused to'tig'htly `engagerleaf 11 Ywhen the raised tpoint 19 :is in :engagement `with the notch 21.

`A pair fof A.ears 23 `are provided on veach side of `leaf The ears 23 .are provided `with holes 24 for apurpose hereinafter-described. zNotches 26 are provided :in the leaf 11 adjacent the ears 23 .and are :also provided :for a purpose hereinafter described. A .groove 427 is pro-vided rinleaf 11 adjacent the pair :of ears oneach Iside tof lthe leaf and 'extends substantially `parallel sto the Ilongitudinal Tof ithe leaf. The .leaf 11is yalsolprovided with la raised :portion 23 which `extends :for a vsubstantial distance along the longitudinal Vaxis of `the leaf.

-Leaf r12 is provided with a cut out `portion 31 which is adapted 'to overlie the raised portion .28 of leaf 111. The witlthtof the cutout portion gradually `increases from the rear to -the `front `and permits `sidewajfs movement .of leaf .12relative to raised Vportion 28. Leaf 12 is falso `provided with widened portions 32 which are .adapted to overlie grooves 27 :but serve to prevent entry v.of the .leaf 12 into grooves`27.

Operation `of :the clasp may now Abe described ,as `follows: To close the `clasp `from the :position shown in Figuref4, `itis merely necessary to spring 'the .leaf 12 .tinto engagement with leaf 11 in such a manner that the V- shaped groove generally overlies raised portion 28. Leaf 12 4is then shifted laterally in one direction or the other until `the raised point 19 engages the hook 17. The widened portions 32 prevent the leaf 12 from entering the grooves 27. .-If the leaf 12 were permitted to enter the grooves V2'?, it would be dcult to shift the leaf 12 laterally with respect Yto leaf 11 and thus would make .it difcult to remove the raised point from under the hook 13. In `opening the clasp, it is apparent that itiis merely necessary to depress the raised point 19 slightly and then move the same laterally iin either direction until .-it is freed from ythe .hook `17.

The hair clasp is .particularly suitable for carrying devices in-thehair. InFigures 1, 2 and 5, I have shownthe hairclasp used for supporting a flexible electricalfcorddr which may form a part of an electrical hearing vaid such as the `cord which :interconnects the transmitter and receiver of .a hearing aid. The cord 34 is positioned on the bottom .of leaf 11 along the longitudinal axis of leaf 11 and underlying the raised portion 28 so that it will fall into the groove provided on the underside ofleaf 11 bythe raised portion. The cord 34 is retained `thereon by .a resilient rubber band 36 having Aportions 36a, 36]), 36C and 36d. It will `be noted `that portions 36a and 36h engage the cord 34 and underlie leaf `11 and Vthat portions 36C and 36d lie in grooves 27.

When a plait `of vhair is positioned between leaves 11 yand .12, `thehar is engaged by portions 36C land 36d .of the rubber band to provide additional friction for retain- -ing the clasp in the desired position on the plait of hair. It will be `evident .that the rubber band 36 must be of such a size that it will be stretched somewhat when it Vis 3 applied over cord 34 and leaf 11 so that the cord 34 will be firmly grasped by the rubber band.

When the hair clasp is utilized for supporting a hearing aid receiver cord, the clasp is generally inserted in the hair on the back of the neck so that the clasp will be completely hidden and s-o that the cord will extend down the neck of the user to the transmitter which is normally carried in a shirt pocket of a similar convenient place. The receiver is normally connected to the ear by any suitable means such as an ear mold. When the hair clasp is applied in this manner, the lock or'plait of hair will be firmly grasped by the hair clasp; however, if the wearer should apply an abnormal pull to the cord, the cord will slip relative to the clasp because of the yieldable tension provided by the rubber band.

In Figure 4, the hair clasp has been shown connected to a receiving unit 37 that is provided with an air tube 38. The receiving unit is connected to the clasp in a manner similar to the attachment of the cord. A rubber band is looped about the receiving unit 37 in such a manner that one portion of the rubber band engages one end of the receiving unit and another portion of the rubber band engages the other end of the receiving unit. The clasp may then be inserted in the hair in a manner similar to that hereinbefore described.

If desired, in supporting a receiving unit in the hair, instead of fastening the clasp directly to the receiving unit, a pair of clasps can be used. For example, one clasp can be fastened to the cord 34, and another clasp can be fastened to the air tube 38. Both clasps can then be inserted in the hair to support the receiving unit. If the wearer wishes to overcome the discomfort of a cord running down the back of the neck, the transmitting unit of the hearing aid may be secured to the clasp by the use of screws connecting the ears 23 to the transmitting unit.

When the clasp is being used by a person wearing a wig or toupee, the holes in the ears 23 may be utilized for sewing the clasp into the wig or toupee.

The clasp may also be used for fastening mens toupees where adhesive cannot be used. It can also be used for fastening womens glamour hair adaptations such as falls,

`curls and pony tails. The clasp is sewn or fastened to the object to be supported.

It will be evident that various changes can be made within the scope of the appended claims. For example, in place of metal, part or all `of the device can be made of a suitable plastic color to resemble skin or hair to facilitate hiding in the hair. The grooves 27 can be eliminated if rubber bands are not used. Also the rubber band 36 can be of any suitable elastic material, such as synthetic rubber.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that I have pro vided a new and improved hair clasp which can be readily concealed in the hair and utilized for supporting objects such as components of hearing aids within the hair. It is also apparent that the clasp can be utilized for securing hats to the hair, such as those worn by nurses or for fastening mens toupees or womens hair adaptations.

I claim:

l. In a clasp adapted to engage a lock of hair and support an object, a leaf, an additional leaf hinged to said first named leaf, said additional leaf being curved to provide a convex surface adapted to be sprung into engagement with said first named leaf to engage a lock of hair, a hook with a notch therein formed on the free end of said first named leaf, a raised portion formed on the free end of said additional leaf and adapted to engage the notch in said hook when said additional leaf is sprung into engagement with :said first named leaf, a plurality of slots in said first named leaf, and resilient rubber-like means for engaging said slots and adapted to yieldably attach an object to said i'st named leaf.

2. In a clasp adapted to engage a lock of hair and support an object, a leaf, an additional leaf hinged to said lrst named leaf, said additional leaf being curved to provide a convex surface adapted to be sprung into engagement with said rst named leaf to clasp a lock of hair, a hook with a notch therein formed on the free end of said first named leaf, a raised portion formed on the free end of said additional leaf and adapted to engage the notch in said hook, one of said leaves being formed with a raised portion extending longitudinally of the leaf, land the other of said leaves being formed with an elongate opening or cut out extending longitudinally of the leaf and overlying said last named raised portion when said first named raised portion is in engagement with said hook.

3. In a clasp adapted to engage a lock of hair and support an object, a leaf, said leaf being formed with a groove on each side edge of the leaf, said grooves extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said leaf, an additional leaf hinged to said first named leaf, said additional leaf being curved to provide a convex surface adapted to be sprung into engagement with first named leaf to engage a lock of hair therebetween, a hook formed on the end of said first named leaf, a raised portion formed on the free end of said additional leaf and adapted to engage said hook when said additional leaf is sprung into engagement with said first named leaf, a plurality of slots in said first named leaf, and resilient rubber-like means engaging said slots and adapted to yieldably attach an object to said first named leaf,

said grooves in said first named leaf being adapted to receive portions of the rubber-like means.

4. A hair clasp as in claim 3 wherein an elongate raised portion is formed on said first named leaf and wherein said additional leaf is formed with an elongated cut out adapted to accommodate said raised portion when said leaves are brought into engagement with each other.

5. A hair clasp as in claim 4 wherein said rubber-like means has spaced portions of the same embracing said object and other portions of the same extending longitudinally of the first named leaf on the side of the leaf opposite the side to which the object is secured.

6. In a clasp adapted to engage a lock of hair and support an object, a leaf, an additional leaf hinged to said first named leaf, said additional leaf being curved to provide a convex surface adapted to be sprung into engagement with said first named leaf to engage a lock of hair, a hook formed on the free end of said first named leaf, a raised portion formed on the free end of said additional leaf and adapted to engage said hook when said additional leaf is sprung into engagement with said first named leaf, a plurality of slots in said first named leaf, and resilient rubber-like means for engaging said slots and adapted to yieldably attach an object to said first named leaf.

7. In a clasp adapted to engage a lock of hair and support an object, a leaf, said leaf being formed with a pair of grooves extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the leaf and being spaced on opposite side edges of the same, a pair of ears formed on each side edge of said leaf, said leaf also being formed to provide slots adjacent said ears, an additional leaf hinged to said first named leaf, said additional leaf `being curved to provide a convex surface adapted to be sprung into engagement with said first named leaf to clasp a lock of hair, a hook formed on the free end of said first named leaf, a raised portion formed on the free end of said additional leaf and adapted to engage said hook, one of said leaves being formed with a raised portion extending longitudinally of the leaf, and the other said leaves being formed with an elongate opening or cut out extending longitudinally of the leaf and overlying said last named raised portion when said first named raised portion is in engagement with said hook, and rubber-like means engaging said slots and adapted to yieldably attach an object to the first named leaf, said grooves in said first named leaf receiving portions of the rubber means, spaced portions of the rubber means ein 5 bracing said object and other portions of the same ex- 1,367,172 tending longitudinally of the first named leaf on either 2,661,748 side of the leaf opposite to which the object is secured.

References Cited in the le of this patent 5 15,018 of 1907 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,091,936 Lange Mar. 31, 1914 6 Andresen Feb. 1, 1921 Racho Dec. 8, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain June 29, 1907 

